InsideTracker is a personalized health analytics company founded by leading scientists, physicians, nutritionists and exercise physiologists from MIT, Harvard and Tufts University. The InsideTracker platform tracks and analyzes key biochemical and physiological markers and applies sophisticated algorithms and large scientific databases to determine personalized optimal zones for each marker. InsideTracker’s expert system offers science-driven nutrition and lifestyle interventions that empower people to optimize their markers. When optimized, these marker levels have been scientifically proven to increase vitality, improve performance and extend life.
Our goal is to empower individuals with the essential information they need to manage and optimize their own health. We believe that by providing a dynamic, personalized analytic platform at the intersection of biology, science and technology, then distilling the results into simple, natural and sustainable nutrition and lifestyle recommendations to follow, we can help people live longer, healthier lives.
Author: Meaghan Murray
InsideTracker is a health analytics tool that tracks and analyzes key biochemical and physiological markers. In other words, it’s an app that that studies your blood and gives you a slew of information from your testosterone and cholesterol levels to liver enzymes. To put it bluntly – it’s pretty frickin’ cool. InsideTracker hooked me up with the Ultimate Plan: 30 biomarkers and InnerAge, but there are several plans to choose from. They range from Ultimate ($499) to DIY ($49) so there’s something for just about everyone. Here’s how it works: you pick a plan, you fill out some personal information (the standards), you make an appointment at Quest Diagnostics to get your blood tested, and within a few days you get results. It’s a relatively simple, painless process (assuming you’re okay with giving some blood). I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I was super anxious to receive my results. They came via email about a week after my blood was taken. The InsideTracker interface is extremely user friendly. Every biomarker is listed with a green, yellow or red color and an explanation of what you’re doing well or what you need to do to improve. For example (to my surprise) my cholesterol was high but my glucose levels were good.
InsideTracker not only provides insight into your health, it also incorporates nutritional suggestions for improvement, including the science behind their recommendations. Not sure WTF Creatine kinase is? No problem. Inside tracker includes an easy to understand explanation for it.
InnerAge is an additional feature. Like the name implies, the tool provides you with an age based on your “insides.” So if you’re InnerAge is lower than your Chronological age, you’re doing good! The feature also equips you with 5 personalized Focus Foods – the foods that will have the most impact on your overall health. My focus foods were: peanut butter, avocado, eel, sunflower seeds and almonds. Yep. I can handle that.
There are a couple negatives to InsideTracker, relatively speaking. The price point is on the steep side (if you want all the goods) and you’re required to fill 4 vials of blood. Yes, 4 vials. The results can also be a bit overwhelming. There’s a TON of nutritional data and information on the site, from videos to blog posts and even references to academic papers. It can be daunting if you’re trying to digest it all at once.
So… does InsideTracker work? I think so. I can’t say yes with science because I have yet to take my second blood test, but I find myself looking at certain foods differently. I am coming to realize that diet has a large impact on running performance and the more information I can gain, the better. I also happen to be a huge nerd and love learning about health, fitness and nutrition. I could read this data all day long. All that aside, I can easily recommend InsideTracker to athletes looking to enhance performance. At the very least, it’s a great way to gain insight into your current health conditions. For more information InsideTracker, check them out here.
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